Veterinary Assistant - York, Canada - Leslieville Animal Hospital

Description

Position Description Animal Care Attendant

Position Overview
The role of the Animal Care Attendant (ACA) is one that demands great versatility. Your primary objectives are excellent client and patient care at all times.

Your time will be divided equally amongst hospital upkeep, caring for pets, assisting the veterinarians or technicians, and administrative duties such as labelling leashes and carriers and other pet belongings, updating the whiteboard when animals are discharged.

It is our commitment and pleasure to work with our clients to ensure we provide the best advice and care at all times.

Reporting Structure

On any given shift you may be required to report to the Head Technician, attending Veterinarian, or the Practice or Office Manager.

Educational Requirements
Graduation from an approved Veterinary Assistant program is beneficial but not required.


Skills
Excellent communication skills are a must. Knowledge of basic veterinary terminology is required for accurate medical record maintenance and effective co-worker based communication. Knowledge of/ability to learn commonly used computer programs and veterinary software is needed. You will be required to perform basic math calculations. Enthusiasm, self-motivation, and empathy are necessary to excel at this job. You should be people oriented, able to prioritize and work calmly under pressure. A good understanding of animal behaviour and proper restraint technique is paramount. Adaptability and flexibility are key traits to possess in this role.


Working Conditions

Must be able to work with unpleasant noises and odours, and able to handle the sight of blood or bodily fluids.

You may be exposed to contagious diseases and injury as a result of animal handling.

Physical requirements are that you must be able to lift up to 50 lb, bend frequently, and stand for extended periods of time.

Emergency or difficult situations will arise during which you must remain calm and focused.


Responsibilities
As a Veterinary Assistant your job involves client care, animal care, hospital cleanliness, and administrative duties. You may be called upon to fill a "float"


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position where you are in multiple areas of the clinic at different times during your shift or your duties change with each shift.

The ACA is able to complete all of the duties listed in the job description for the CCR as well as the following:


Client Care

Has a sound knowledge base of all commonly performed tests and procedures, prescription diets, and OTC products; greets clients and their pets by name; discusses any basic preventive medicine topics with clients such as parasite prevention, dental health home-care, nutrition, and grooming; ensures clients have all necessary literature, medications and food recommended by the veterinarian.

You may also assists with traffic flow in the reception area if it becomes busy with clients and their pets, by directing patients into open examination rooms.

Animal Care

Prepares patient cage cards and label belongings, update the white board, and indicates all special requests, needs, and/or supplies brought by owner in appropriate locations; prepares, assists with or administers oral and topical medications; prepare prescriptions or assist in counting pills, provides patient restraint for a variety of procedures (treatments, surgery, diagnostics); prepares lab requisitions and samples for in house and external testing/shipping; able to run basic blood work on in house machines such as vettest, lasercyte; performs snap tests, sets up fecal floats; provides basic grooming such as nail trims and ear cleanings; sets up and properly cares for patient monitoring and treatment devices such as pulse oximeter, blood pressure monitor, IV pumps etc.; sets up, assist with, and develops x-rays; assists with or performs patient preparation for surgery; charts findings during dental prophylaxis; monitors patient recovery from anesthesia; maintains all relevant patient logs; enters treatments and comments in patient record; upholds all patient care and safety policies in effect; assists the technicians and veterinarians as requested; takes dogs safely outside to eliminate as needed; closely monitors all hospitalized pets and immediately alerts technicians or veterinarians to any change in status; cleans pets and their bedding as needed (vomitus, diarrhea, etc.); considers patient and co-worker safety at all times; is always an advocate for the pet.

Hospital Cleaning

Understands the principles of cleaning and disinfection and knows the appropriate products and contact time required; vacuum, dust, mop, etc.

to ensure all areas of the hospital are kept clean, free of clutter, hazards, and foul or strong odours with particular attention paid to the consultation rooms, treatment area, surgical and radiology suites, and isolation room; maintains cleaning


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supplies and other supplies needed in afor